Latest news with #CarolinOtt
Roya News
2 days ago
- Health
- Roya News
UK faces legal action for refusing medical evacuation of critically ill children from Gaza
The United Kingdom government is facing intensified scrutiny and a significant legal challenge for its decision not to facilitate the medical evacuation of critically ill children from Gaza. Lawyers and human rights advocates contend that this stance sharply contrasts with Britain's historical humanitarian efforts in other global conflicts, prompting widespread calls for a dedicated pathway for child patients. The legal action, spearheaded by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of three severely unwell children in Gaza, has been formally brought against both the Foreign Office and the Home Office. The challenge asserts that government ministers have failed to adequately assess the dire lack of medical resources and treatment options within the besieged territory when denying requests for vital medical transfers. Carolin Ott, a lawyer with Leigh Day, underscored the inadequacy of the government's current position. "The UK government has explained its failure to facilitate medical evacuations from Gaza on the basis that it supports treatment options in Gaza and the surrounding region and that there are visas available for privately funded medical treatment in the UK," Ott stated. "However, these mechanisms are profoundly inadequate to meet the urgent needs of children in Gaza." The three children at the heart of the legal case include a two-year-old, identified as Child Y, who suffers from an arteriovenous malformation in his cheek, causing daily bleeding and leaving him in critical condition. The other two, siblings aged five and known as Child S, are battling cystinosis nephropathy, a chronic kidney condition that has already led to kidney failure, with one sibling reportedly no longer able to walk. All three require urgent, specialized medical attention unavailable in Gaza. The legal challenge draws pointed comparisons to the UK's past actions, noting the active role Britain played in evacuating children from conflict zones such as the Bosnian War in the 1990s and, more recently, from Ukraine. Critics argue that the government's current approach to Gaza represents a troubling departure from these precedents. Despite ongoing appeals from humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Project Pure Hope, for the establishment of a government-funded medical evacuation route, the UK has not yet offered itself as a receiving state for such patients. While Project Pure Hope successfully brought two Gazan children to the UK for urgent, privately funded care in May, this remains a solitary instance. The charity's subsequent request for a government-funded pathway was reportedly declined. Recent developments have seen the Scottish First Minister, John Swinney, publicly urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to engage with Scotland on the issue. Swinney stated that Scotland "stands ready" to receive some of the estimated 2,000 injured children from Gaza who require urgent medical attention and treatment within the NHS. However, Swinney claims to have received no response from the Prime Minister on this offer, highlighting a growing disconnect within the UK's political landscape regarding the crisis. According to health officials in Gaza, more than 17,000 children have been killed since October 7, 2023, out of a total of 58,000 Palestinian fatalities. The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 12,500 patients in Gaza require evacuation for medical treatment, with only around 7,200, including nearly 5,000 children, having been moved to other countries as of April 10. The legal pre-action letter requires a formal response from the UK government by July 28. As of Saturday, July 20, 2025, neither the Foreign Office nor the Home Office has publicly commented on the legal proceedings, but a government spokesperson reiterated their ongoing humanitarian contributions, including a £7.5 million medical support package announced in May, and their support for privately funded initiatives like Project Pure Hope.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
UK faces legal action over refusal to evacuate Gaza's critically ill children
LONDON — The British government is facing a legal challenge over its refusal to medically evacuate critically ill children from Gaza, a move campaigners say sharply contrasts with the UK's response in other global conflicts. According to The Guardian, the action was filed on behalf of three children in Gaza against both the Foreign Office and the Home Office. The legal complaint argues that ministers failed to adequately consider the desperate lack of medical care in the war-torn enclave before denying evacuation requests. The case also highlights what lawyers describe as a double standard, noting that the UK facilitated medical evacuations during the Bosnian war in the 1990s and amid the current conflict in Ukraine. Carolin Ott, a solicitor at the law firm Leigh Day, which is leading the legal challenge, said: 'The UK government has explained its failure to facilitate medical evacuations from Gaza on the basis that it supports treatment options in Gaza and the surrounding region and that there are visas available for privately funded medical treatment in the UK. However, these mechanisms are profoundly inadequate to meet the urgent needs of children in Gaza.' Campaigners are calling on the UK to establish a government-funded immigration pathway specifically for emergency medical evacuations. While two children from Gaza were admitted to the UK for urgent care in May through the charity Project Pure Hope, this remains the only such case to date—and it was entirely privately funded. The charity reportedly requested a Gaza-to-UK pathway funded by the British government, but the proposal was rejected. To date, the UK has not offered to serve as a receiving country for medical evacuations from Gaza. The legal filing asserts that continued inaction by British ministers is leaving critically ill Palestinian children without life-saving care. Neither the Foreign Office nor the Home Office has responded publicly to the legal action. — Agencies
The National
2 days ago
- Health
- The National
UK Government facing legal action over Gaza medical evacuations
Reports from The Guardian reveal a case has been brought against the Foreign Office and the Home Office on behalf of three children with life-threatening conditions. Lawyers argue ministers have failed to consider the severe lack of medical care in Gaza before denying evacuation requests. READ MORE: 'Israel killed my brother. My boycott app in his memory now has 11 million users' The legal claim highlights the UK's inconsistency, pointing out that Britain evacuated children from war zones in Bosnia and Ukraine, but has not done so for Gaza. Carolin Ott of Leigh Day, the law firm representing the children, told The Guardian: 'The UK Government has explained its failure on the basis that it supports treatment options in [[Gaza]] and the surrounding region and that there are visas available for privately funded medical treatment in the UK. 'However, these mechanisms are profoundly inadequate.' The children's families say evacuation is urgently needed. One child, aged two and referred to in the case as Child Y, suffers daily bleeding caused by an arteriovenous malformation in his cheek, leaving him in critical condition. The two other children, referred to as Child S, are siblings with cystinosis nephropathy, a chronic condition also known as leaky kidney. Both have developed kidney failure and may require transplants, and one sibling is now immobile as a result. Despite pressure from campaigners, the UK has not created a specific safe immigration route for these children. The genocide in Gaza has now lasted over 650 days. More than 17,000 of the 58,000 Palestinians killed were children, according to Gaza's health ministry. READ MORE: 'Time to take action': What it was like at the national Palestine demo in Edinburgh The World Health Organization estimates 12,500 [[Gaza]]ns require medical evacuation. As of April, over 7000 have been evacuated abroad, nearly 5000 of them children. As reported by The National, Dr Hani Isleem of Médecins Sans Frontières previously said that some countries fear that accepting patients will be seen as encouraging 'forced migration.' A UK Government spokesperson said they've funded healthcare for 500,000 Palestinians and backed initiatives like Project Pure Hope. However, only two children have reached the UK via this route, and government funding was denied. First Minister John Swinney recently wrote to Keir Starmer, urging him to 'engage' with Scotland over treating ill and injured Gazan children, though Starmer is yet to reply. The Government must respond to the legal challenge by 28 July.
